Malta boat parties, what I'd check before stepping aboard

A Malta boat party has everything the photos promise, turquoise water, music and a long afternoon. It’s also a plan that mixes alcohol, sun and deep water, and that’s where a clear head helps. Below is what the official sources say, plus what I’d check before handing over any money.

A summer plan

The Ministry for Gozo puts it plainly. Parties, open-air festivals and boat parties all hit their peak season in summer. Outside that season I wouldn’t count on finding many, so I’d keep this for the warm months.

Visitmalta lists cruise and charter operators based in Sliema, Ta’ Xbiex, Birgu and Portomaso, and the Sliema seafront is also where the Valletta ferry and the harbour cruises leave from. If all you want is the coastline from the water, without the music, you’re better off with one of the Malta boat trips.

What should you check before you pay?

For me, four things. First, that the organiser is licensed. The Malta Tourism Authority requires an excursion operator licence under regulation S.L. 409.09, with third-party liability insurance of at least €250,000. Asking about it isn’t rude, it’s the bare minimum.

Second, where the boat stops. Plenty of trips moor off Comino, and there’s a rule there that changed in 2025. Since 1 May that year, setting foot on the Blue Lagoon has required a free booking for one of three time slots on the MTA system, with a cap of 4,000 people at once. If your party includes going ashore, you need that booking, and nobody can sell it to you. It’s all explained in my guide to the Blue Lagoon.

Third, when it gets back and to which port. And fourth, what the price includes, because drinks, food and transfers vary a lot between boats and no official source publishes prices.

Drink and deep water

I don’t want to underplay this. The Foreign Office points out that every year people drown in Malta, both in the sea and in swimming pools, and warns against diving into unknown water, because hidden rocks and shallow depths can cause serious injury. On a boat with a bar, that advice counts double. I’d only swim where someone’s keeping watch, and never after a few drinks.

The Foreign Office also reports spiked drinks in some Paceville venues and advises buying your own and keeping them in sight. There’s no specific warning about boats, but the same advice holds, and it’s worth sharing with the group before you board, especially on a stag or hen do.

What isn’t allowed

Spain’s foreign ministry spells it out. Nudity and topless bathing are not allowed in Malta. If the boat moors near a beach or a busy cove, I’d apply the same rule on deck. And although Malta has allowed cannabis use at home since 2021, the Foreign Office notes that smoking it in public is against the law and can earn you a fine.

Getting back to dry land

If the party finishes late, think about getting home before you board. Night routes cost €3 with Malta Public Transport, which also offers a night service on demand that you book through the tallinja app. On Gozo, the Ministry for Gozo warns that public transport stops at 23:00. If you’d rather not rely on the bus, take a taxi or a ride-hailing app and agree the fare first.

If boats aren’t your thing and you’re after a club, the areas, warnings and ways home are in my guide to Malta nightlife. And if you’d rather head out to sea at your own pace, the Comino ferry gets you to the island on your own terms.